You Never Know

public domain photo - credits below

You Never Know

but, the veteran

inhabiting a cardboard box,

who scours dumpsters daily

for something warm

to wear, to eat

(she knows)

the single parent

working three jobs

who needs decide

which bills to pay

and not

(he knows)

the inner city kids

waiting greedily

for their free

school lunches,

the lonely seniors,

anticipating a visitation

from Meals on Wheels,

the refugees

traipsing empty

but filled with hope,

fueled by dreams,

carrying their most

precious cargo

(they know)

but unless

displacement

by the next 

natural disaster

finds YOU 

waiting on FEMA,

or Red Cross, or

Americares,

or the kindness 

of strangers,

you'll (probably)

never know.

PSC / NOV 2018

public domain photo credits